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The fantastic event hosted by Plympton Chamber of Commerce attracted people of all ages and saw the popular shopping area turn into a pedestrian haven.

Plymouth Raiders were there to get the crowd going ahead of the button being pressed to turn the lights on. Players, Cheerleaders and team mascot, Foxy invited children on stage to take part in fun games.

Tavistock

The date has already been set for Tavistock's Christmas light switch on. This year the festivities will take place on Friday, December 7.

Based on last year's events the lights will be switched on at 5.45pm in the town centre, which will also include hot chestnuts, an elf station, Father Christmas and real reindeer.

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Torquay's Christmas light switch on and carnival is back for its 28th year.

Organisers have also now revealed that the carnival will take place on Saturday, November 17, 2018.

Thousands of people attend the event every year, which has always been organised by the Bay’s ‘Mr Christmas ’ Steve Holdup, from Torbay Display, and Torbay Carnival director Mike Bailey who said: “Our spirits are very much raised when we see the pleasure this day gives to so many.”

Time Line

Who has switched on Plymouth's Christmas lights in the past?

2017

The main nman himself - Father Christmas - had teh honour of switching on Plymouth's Christmas lights in 2017.

2016

X Factor star Shayne Ward pulled out from switching on the Christmas lights because he had to film for Coronation Street.

Shayne was set to press the button on November 17, but due to an “impending big storyline” on the popular soap, he could no longer make it to Plymouth.

Instead, Sam Bailey, who won series 10 of the X Factor in 2013, was supposed to return to the city to do the honours. She was the guest of honour in 2015, after getting her own Christmas number one in 2013 with her debut single Skyscraper.

But she also pulled out last minute.

A competition was launched to to find someone in Plymouth to do the honours.

Two brave young boys, Henry Hallam and Noah Evans, who were born with life-threatening illnesses, were chosen to switch on the Christmas lights after they won a public vote.

2015

John ‘Birdman’ Allin turned on the lights in 2015 and sang in front of hundreds of people.

After wowing the crowd with a performance of his signature track ‘Do Wah Diddy Diddy’, he performed a rendition of Merry Christmas Everybody with band Joker.

Sam Bailey, the 2013 X-Factor winner, and Disney characters including the Ice Queen, Ice Prince, Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty were also special guests.

Brand new lights, installed by Plymouth City Council and the Plymouth City Centre Company, turned the city centre white and gold while a snow-falling machine proved popular.